2002 Ford Focus vs 2002 Volkswagen GTI
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Focus | 2002 Volkswagen GTI |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 939 | 124 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 143 | 113 |
| Investigations | 5 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 82 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 20 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–28 | 21–24 |
| Median reported mileage | 54,000 mi | 18,366 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Focus | Volkswagen GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 277 | 42 |
| Suspension | 109 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 103 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 72 | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 64 | 4 |
| Power Train | 58 | 10 |
| Tires | 62 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 58 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 119 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 46 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 23 | 14 |
| Won’t start | 17 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 17 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 6 |
| Water leaks | 9 | 0 |
2002 Ford Focus
2002 Volkswagen GTI
Compare all Ford Focus vs Volkswagen GTI years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.